Quiet, sturdy, well-made shoes
I got these because I wore very similar shoes when I was younger and had fond memories of them. They are just as good as I remembered. I do a lot of walking, and I live out in the country where the paths and roads are either gravel, rocks, or just trails through the woods. I'd previously been wearing athletic shoes, but they didn't work so well because they were constantly picking up small rocks in the crevices of the soles. The crepe soles don't pick up small rocks, so my floors stay much cleaner--in fact they pick up far less dirt and debris than any of the walking/athletic shoes I used to wear. To my surprise, the thick soles also protected the soles of my feet from rocks better, as well--rocky surfaces were far less noticeable than when I wore athletic shoes. That was a big shock to me, since I expected the athletic shoes to perform better, which was not the case at all.As for size, I wear between an 8.5 and 9. With these, I erred on the side of larger, but it turns out the shoes run a little bit large. I should have gotten the 8.5 instead of the 9, but nonetheless, I still like the size 9 and I just wear a slightly thicker sock. I wanted to note that the back heel area is not as curved or "sculpted" as some shoes, so the heel does fit a little loosely. I have a very thin heel, so I did notice that, but wearing a thicker sock works well enough for me. I have trouble with blisters, which is why I prefer a slightly looser shoe. I've worn these a lot and have never gotten any blisters yet. They are quiet and very comfortable. The leather is a little stiff, but it didn't bother me, however it might need a little breaking in period.I like the "boxy" toe because it doesn't crimp my toes. The shoe does run a little long/large, so my toes are nowhere near the end. However, because I am prone to blisters, I'd rather this be the case, though the 8.5 would probably have been a better fit. If you are between sizes, you might want to buy the smaller size. I actually think the sizing is truer for shoe sizes in the past--it seems like I wear a smaller size (8.5) with higher quality or older styles of shoes, while cheaper/new styles seem to require a larger size (9). Just an observation/opinion.If you want quiet, well-made, sturdy shoes that don't track in a lot of pebbles and dirt, you really should take a look at these. They are great for walking in areas that aren't paved, because the thick crepe soles really do protect your feet very well.